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Media Distemper Over Voting in the House, Sports Are a Right-Wing Tool, and More Office Space Melodrama

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Oct 05, 2023
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10.05.23

Low Octane Gas Lighting – THE NEW REPUBLIC

There are a number of negative impressions of Kevin McCarthy being removed from the Speaker's podium. It is the first time in history this has occurred, the replacement time could impact the next national budget vote, and Nancy Pelosi was kicked out of her posh office! Yet, when the complaints are being lodged, a certain reality keeps popping up; the Democrats are largely responsible for this, as they voted wildly in favor of removing McCarthy. When faced with this fact, at The New Republic they came to a sound decision – deny the math.

Allow me to help Alex Shephard out here. Eight Republicans voted to remove McCarthy. Two hundred and eight Democrats also voted for this. In fact, more Republicans voted against the decision than Democrats voted in favor. So yes, Alex – the Democrats did, in fact, have a hand in this decision.

DNC PR Firm – CNN

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  • Democracy is imperiled by rearranging the office chairs.

It really is revealing to see the loyalties in the press on display as many journalists express varying degrees of disappointment at the news that after Kevin McCarthy was removed as Speaker, Nancy Pelosi was being forced to relinquish the hideaway office she has maintained as former Speaker. Maria Shriver sees this as a direct threat to the sanctity of our democracy.

The obliviousness was ramped up on "The Lead," with Jake Tapper bringing on Jamie Gangel, who, after shaking her head and describing this as "real estate revenge," then revealed in dramatically hushed tones that Kevin McCarthy was behind the move. Jake tut-tutted this was "classy," in a sarcastic fashion, the contempt palpable on set. 

Maybe equally "classy" was after McCarthy went to Pelosi for support in the face of this vote she stated she would back him, then promptly did not do so. So sending her packing seems perfectly in line with her level of class.

Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – NBC NEWS

We have the press positioning things for another round of racial outrage and possibly cheering on a new outburst of social outrage over a police beating of Le'Keian Woods, a 24-year-old black man, "after a traffic stop." Lawyers have already come out with press conferences alleging unnecessary police brutality and calling for the DOJ to get involved, all of which NBC News dutifully repeated.

What NBC News did not repeat were many of the details leading up to his forceful arrest. Woods was seen involved with a drug bust and then resisted the arresting officers, even after he had been subdued initially with a tazer. According to the AP:

Woods had once been accused of murder, was on probation for armed robbery, and had been connected to firearms and drug trafficking when they gave chase to him Friday. Woods is charged with resisting arrest with violence, armed trafficking in cocaine and methamphetamine and other felonies.

First Amendment Strike Force – VICE NEWS

In typical Vice News fashion, the site conducted an investigation into the Libs Of TikTok account. It looked at 42 schools that the account had featured as performing a number of woke activities, from holding events to promoting inappropriate reading material or teachers behaving in a questionable fashion. The outlet contacted all and found that 11 schools received bomb threats following posts by Chaya Raichik. 

Of course, Vice does not provide anything such as a quote or directive from LoTT or Raichik to go after the schools. It does nothing to illustrate cause and effect, but, in each instance, the site declares LoTT "targeted" the school.

Presentation Paradox – THE NATION

  • The overriding threat of baseball means the takeover by conservatives is swelling!

If you want some real comedy regarding the hyperactive reaction to conservatives encroaching on hallowed institutions, all you need to do is look at how they have been losing their minds over one school in Florida. Since there was a faculty overhaul at The New College of Florida, the press and others on the left have been outraged at the changes that involve eliminating the woke operations at this small university.

At The Nation, they saw a new development at the school and lost their grip on reality. The latest crime being committed at this university? Get this – they are adding sports!:

The far-right extremists in charge of New College are recruiting baseball players to overhaul the ideology of the student body. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics chose to legitimize the openly right-wing seizure of the institution. The recent actions of New College’s administration has been at odds with the rights of teachers, students, and the very principles of education. The NAIA should have rejected the application. The far-right extremists in charge are using sports to overhaul the ideology of the student body. 

The amusement in this piece is endless. It is said the college is in the midst of a "purge" – by increasing the size of the student body by around 15%. But you have to appreciate the concept of the introduction of sports being a far-right extremist concept, coming from the author of the book "The Kaepernick Effect."

Legalized Press-titution – VARIOUS OUTLETS

Politico's Playbook gave a nice rundown of a gathering that was just held for Karine Jean-Pierre. The laundry list of celebrity females from media who were in attendance cooing over the press secretary includes a number of journalism personalities as well as the presidents of two news networks:

OUT AND ABOUT — Ashley Allison, Ashley Etienne, Stefanie Brown James and Adrienne Elrod hosted a dinner last night to celebrate White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. 

SPOTTED: Andrea Mitchell, Joy Reid, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Karen Finney, Tasia Jackson, Kasie Hunt, Maya Wiley, Rashida Jones, Kim Godwin, Melanie Campbell, Maria Cardona, Shawna Thomas, Margaret Brennan, Stephanie Cutter, Susanna Quinn, Kelly Robinson, Caroline Wanga, Shavon Arline Bradley, Chanelle Hardy, Addie Whisenant, Anne MacMillan and Nadine Duplessy Kearns.

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